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T&T’s Kumar claims first AJGA golf title

Top T&T junior Sachin Kumar prevailed in a three-hole playoff to win the Boys Division in his first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournament- the 2014 Taylor Made Adidas Golf Junior All-Star, in Palm Harbour, Florida, on Sunday.

The tournament featured 84 girls and boys from ages 12-15 from 23 states, as well as from T&T, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Taiwan.

Kumar played the par-70 Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club—North Course at 5,986 yards, while the Girls Division played at 5,426 yards.

The Valsayn, Trinidad-native outlasted China’s Harry Xue of Lake Mary, Florida and Justin Kim of Rome, Georgia, in a three-man, sudden-death playoff to win the Boys Division title Sunday.

“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now,” said Kumar.

Kumar, a 2018 graduate playing in his first AJGA event, led wire-to-wire after he set the pace Saturday with a 3-under-par 67 and shot a 2-over-par 72 on Sunday to finish with a tournament total of 139.

Xue and Kim joined Kumar in the playoff, but neither player could match Kumar’s birdie on the third playoff hole.

“I was just thinking about making par,” Kumar said. “I didn’t hit the best shots in, but, you know, I grinded it out.”

Kim started the day six strokes behind the leader but came back to tie, fuelled by five birdies and a 4-under-par 66.